Stamping machine



March 31, 1931. u. KOHLER STAMPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1928IIIIiiiiliiiii.

R w E. m m W 0 T w NH A m mm E Patented Mar. 31, 1931 PATENT? OFFICEULRICH KOHLER, or BERKSWITZERLAND STAMPING MACHINE Application filedJanuary 14, 1928, Serial No. 246,835, and in Germany January 14, 1927.

a rotary carrier, have the drawback that the stamps can only be used forone value. A stamping machine that can be used for variable values hasthe advantage over machines with set values that the stamps do notbecome useless when the postage rates are altered.

The exchange of the stamps means interruption of operations andexpenses. A stamping machine adapted for all values is, moreover, notrestricted to stamping postal letters,

like the machines used heretofore, but it can be used in all cases whereany desired numbers are to be printed one or several times oncertificates, bills, and such like.

The invention relates to a machine of this kind in which any desirednumbers can be stamped. Each number is on a separate block, and theseblocks are arranged in rows that can be moved parallel to each other. Incertain positions in regard to an opening of l the fixed or rotatablecarrier showing the other stamp part the blocks can be moved by means ofa common member across the direction of their rows into the saidopening. As the additional stamps for postal purposes can i bedistributed over the circumference of the cylinder in the same, orapproximately the same, radialplane, the length of the inking mechanismcan be comparatively short, which is of advantage for the uniform inkingof the I entire printing surface.

In the accompanying drawing two constructions of the stamping machineare shown as far as is necessary to make the invention clear.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the printing cylinder, partly cut away, asseen from below in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line II-'II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on the line III-4H in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a detail.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent a part of the second construction inlongitudinal section and in elevation.

According to the example shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the printing cylinder,consisting chiefly of a cylindrical tube 1, has, on its outsidecircumference, printing surfaces 2, 3 and 4 provided with the usualstamps, not shown in the drawing. The printing cylinder and the printingsurface 2 have a rectan- V gular opening 5, the longest side of which isat right angles to the cylinder axis, into which opening project fromthe interior of the cylinder usually four printing blocks a, b, 0, (Z,carrying numerals which blocks belong to rows 6, 7, 8, 9. Each row ofnumeral printing blocks is arranged between two parallel flat guide rods10, which, at the lower end in Figs. 1 and 3, are connected together bya piece 11, and, at the upper end, are fastened to a longitudinal slide12, 13, 14 or 15. These slides and the guide rods 10 lie between the twocheeks of a frame of H-section, so fitted into the printing cylinderthat, together with the respective row of numerals, they can be movedlongitudinally. The length of this movement determines the amount ofrotation given to the counting wheels of a counting device not shown inthe drawing and not forming a novel part of the invention. The slidesare each provided at the upper end in Fig. 1 with a projection 18passing through a longitudinal slot 17 of the cylinder 1 and serving, atthe same time, as a. handle and index permitting the par ticular slideto be adjusted to a scale in the respective slot 17, sothat the desiredprinting block will appear in the opening 5. In all other positions thenumeral printing blocks are prevented from moving in a direction atright angles to the cylinder axis, because the printing surface slidesalong the inner surface of the printing cylinder and its shoulders 19press against the guide rods 10. At the inner end each numeral printingblock carries a stud 20, with head 21, which projects through a commonlongitudinal slot 22 in the cross member of the frame 16. In the planeof the opening 5 the cheeks of the frame have a slot 23 in which a slide24 is guided. The slide 24 is common to the blocks 6 positioned oppositethe opening 5 and is movable transversely in the cylinder bearing, atits top end, against a cam 31 The axis of this cam carriesahandle 32 letinto a groove on the outside of thecylinder, not shown on the drawing.By means of this handle 82 the cam 31 can beturned: and the lever 30,together with the slide 24 will be moved, the latter being so advancedthat the printing bloeksiconnected therewith are pushed into, or pulledout of, the opening i'Vhen in the opening they arein a level with theprinting sur't'ace2, so t-hat on turning the printingcylinder 1,supported at both ends in the end walls of the casing 33, the blockswill be inked by the roller 34 of inking device of any knownconstruction and print ed, together with the printin surface 2, 3 and 4,on a letter, card, or the like, pressed by a roller 36 up against theprinting cylindel If a postal mark of other value is to be printed, thenumeral. printing blocks are pulled back out of the opening 5 by turningthe handle Thereafter every numeral row can be moved separately. By thenagain turning the handle through half a revolution all the numeralprinting blocks oppositethe opening 5 willbe pushed by the slide 24 intoth s opening, that is to say, they are brought into the/ operativeposition.

'llhe construction shown in Figs. 5 and G,

diliers from that describedlabove only by the tart that the printingsurface hastwo si iilar openings 5, and that each numeral printing blocka has two similar numeral types a. This construction is suitable in, allcases where the same number has to beprinted double on a letter, card,or the like, and 'in a control certificate as well, and in this caseneither a larger diameter ofthe printing cylinder nor a larger casing,or. a different inking inechanisnr are required. The last fea ture ofparticular importance, compared with existing devices, having awheel-carrier for'the stamps, beeause the limited space on a letter orprinted certificate doesnot permit of any markedenlargement oftheprinting surface and "every enlargement of the printing surface causesdifficulty in obtaining a uniforminginking.

Instead ofbeingcylindrical and rotatable the carrier for the printingsurfaces can be tlat and fixed, or segmental and oscillating,but.thecylindrica-l form hasthe advantage, that the printing takes placewith greater speciiic pressure andlessfpower. because then themomentaryprinting surface is a thin line. 7

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. The combination in a stamping machine of a printing element, acarrier for said printing element, printing blocks, longitudinallymovable slides carrying rows of said blocks and adapted to position thedesired block of each row opposite to an opening in said carrier, and anindependently operable trans verse slide common to all of the positionedblocks for simultaneously moving said blocks through the opening andflush with said printing element.

' 2. The combination with a stamping ma chine, of a printing element, acylinder to carry said element and having a transverse slot in itscircumference, numeral printing blocks inside the said cylinder, guiderods carrying said blocks, a frame to guide said rods longitudinally sothat certain printing blocks of each row may be arranged opposite theslot in the cylinder, and an independently operable transverse slidecommon to all of the position blocks for moving said blocks transverselyto the direction in which said rods are movable into and out of the slotin the cylinder.

3. The combination in a stamping machine of a printing element,acylinder to carry said printing element and having a slot in itscircumference, printing blocks arranged in rows inside the cylinder,means for supporting and guiding the rows of blocks in the. cylinder sothat any one of the blocks of each row may be brought opposite the slotin said cylinder, engaging meanson the back end ofgsaid blocks, and anindependently operable and transversely mounted slide adapted to engagewith the engaging. means of the 1905i.- tionedblocks for simultaneouslymoving said engaged blocks into and out of the slot. in the cylinder,

In testimony whereof I afiiz: my signature.

ULRICH KOHLER.

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